Link Report for Friday 8/5 -- Four Combine on Helena No-No!

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Friday's Daily Menu: TGIF!

 

All times Central except for Arizona Rookie; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP's Gary Glover and Wes Obermueller in a twinbill at Colorado Springs (Rockies), 5:45 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.nashvillesounds.com/listenlive/

 

Huntsville: RHP Glenn Woolard at home vs. Mississippi (Braves), 6:50 PM pre-game, 7:05 gametime

 

Audio link:

www.espn1450.com/

 

If that link is down for bandwidth, use:

specs.eyecentric.com/pres...opup.shtml

 

Brevard County: RHP Tim Dillard at Sarasota (Reds), 6:00 PM; no audio for this series

 

West Virginia: RHP Kevin Roberts at home vs. Asheville (Rockies), 6:05 PM

 

Audio link:

www.sportsjuice.com/provi...e=wvpower.

 

Helena: RHP Simon Beresford at home vs. Billings (Reds), 8:05 PM; both Beresford and fellow Aussie, LHP David Welch, will be activated from the disabled list and are expected to piggy-back in this one...

 

Audio link (opponent's):

www.billingsmustangs.com/

 

Arizona: TBD vs. the itty-bitty Cubbies at home in the Maryvale complex, 7:00 PM local time; never any web audio for Arizona Rookie ball...

[Mass Haas]

Links to follow Friday's action as it happens:

 

Nashville Game One:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_cspaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Two:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_cspaaa_2

 

Huntsville:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Brevard County:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_sarafx_1

 

West Virginia:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

Helena:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Arizona:

Not updated live, but usually later during the overnight...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_brrrok_1

[Mass Haas]

 Pacific Coast League (AAA) - American North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Nashville 60 51 .541 - 31-29 29-22 L2[/b] Memphis 55 57 .491 5.5 30-30 25-27 W1 Iowa 51 58 .468 8.0 32-25 19-33 W3 Omaha 52 60 .464 8.5 20-28 32-32 W4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southern League (AA) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Carolina 23 14 .622 - 12-9 11-5 L1 West Tenn 23 16 .590 1.0 12-10 11-6 L1 [b]Huntsville 19 20 .487 5.0 7-10 12-10 W1[/b] Tennessee 18 21 .462 6.0 8-9 10-12 L2 Chattanooga 14 25 .359 10.0 7-14 7-11 W1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida State League (A+) - East Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vero Beach 26 13 .667 - 14-7 12-6 W6 St. Lucie 23 16 .590 3.0 10-9 13-7 W1 Palm Beach 23 17 .575 3.5 11-9 12-8 L1 [b]Brevard County 22 17 .564 4.0 9-10 13-7 W1[/b] Daytona 17 22 .436 9.0 10-11 7-11 W4 Jupiter 14 23 .378 11.0 11-9 3-14 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- South Atlantic League (A) - Northern Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delmarva 27 11 .711 - 17-2 10-9 L1 Hickory 23 16 .590 4.5 12-8 11-8 W2 Lexington 21 18 .538 6.5 13-9 8-9 L1 [b]West Virginia 21 18 .538 6.5 12-8 9-10 W1[/b] Lakewood 19 21 .475 9.0 12-11 7-10 L2 Lake County 17 22 .436 10.5 8-11 9-11 W1 Greensboro 16 23 .410 11.5 5-9 11-14 W1 Hagerstown 12 23 .343 13.5 5-11 7-12 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pioneer League (R+) - North Division Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Helena 5 0 1.000 - 2-0 3-0 W5[/b] Billings 3 2 .600 2.0 1-0 2-2 L2 Great Falls 1 4 .200 4.0 0-3 1-1 W1 Missoula 1 4 .200 4.0 1-3 0-1 L1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arizona League (R) - Arizona League Standings ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Team W L PCT GB HOME ROAD STREAK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AZL Giants 5 1 .833 - 2-1 3-0 W4 AZL Mariners 5 1 .833 - 3-0 2-1 W1 AZL Angels 3 2 .600 1.5 1-1 2-1 W3 AZL Rangers 4 3 .571 1.5 3-1 1-2 L2 [b]AZL Brewers 2 2 .500 2.0 1-1 1-1 W1[/b] AZL Athletics 3 4 .429 2.5 3-1 0-3 W1 AZL Royals 2 3 .400 2.5 1-1 1-2 L3 AZL Padres 1 3 .250 3.0 1-1 0-2 L3 AZL Cubs 0 6 .000 5.0 0-3 0-3 L6

Stats and League Leaders, USA Today (or go to MILB.com):

 

www.usatoday.com/sports/b.../index.htm

[homer]

Helena's offense gets a mention in BA's Daily Dish:

 

Rookie-level Helena keeps pounding Pioneer League opponents, even after the promotions of players like Ryan Braun, Charlie Fremaint and Angel Salome to Class A West Virginia. Thursday, shortstop Michael Bell, a 15th-round pick out of Grayson (Texas) CC, slammed his first two homers, while 21-year-old Dominican outfielder Agustin Septimo also homered twice in a 10-4 victory against Billings. Helena remained 5-0 in the second half and is hitting an absurd .325/.395/.521 as a team, all league-leading marks.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Media Notes for Friday (PDF format):

 

www.nashvillesounds.com/pdf/notes.pdf

[molitor fan]

Woo-hoo, Helena gets a 9 inning no-hitter as Helena beats Billings 11-0.

 

Cool beans.

[brewcru1]

Well let me recap here:

 

Nashville wins game 1; winning game 2

Huntsville loses

Brevard wins

West Virginia loses

 

And Helena in the 9th up 11-0. And oh yeah, they've got a *censored*-hitter going

[brewcru1]

Thats the first Brewer minor league no no in recent history. Anyone know the last time it happened?

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 11, Billings (Reds) 0

Much more on this one when the newspaper accounts are available Saturday AM...

 

Helena Box Score:

Twelve strikeouts, five walks, ten groundouts, five in the air -- no-hitter! As noted earlier, Simon Beresford and David Welch came off the disabled list earlier in the day -- first professional no-hitter ever to feature two Australian pitchers? Congrats to Richard Breshears and Wil Laureano as well; plenty of offensive help -- this team rocks!

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

 

Helena Game Log:

Don't underestimate a clean defensive game behind the pitchers...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...k_helrok_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Brevard County 2, Sarasota (Reds) 1

 

Brevard County Site Game Summary

 

Dillard Wins Again

Seven Innings Pitched, No Walks and Only Three Hits

 

(Saturday, August 6th) - Manatees Ace Tim Dillard cruised thru the Sarasota Reds line up last night en route to a 2-1 win at Sarasota. Dillard finished the night allowing only three hits, no walks and whiffing five to help the Manatees take three of four games in the team's final trip to the left coast of Florida.

 

Outfielder Travis Ezi led all hitters, banging out four hits in five at-bats, but strangely the speedster's hits were all singles. In fact, none of the Manatees 10 hits went for extra bases, but it was enough to get the job done.

 

Dillard, who has already tied two Brevard County Manatees franchise pitching records this season: two complete games and five shut outs, sports an 11-7 record and a 2.45 ERA. His 154.1 innings pitched is only 11 innings off the all-time Manatees record of 165.1 set by Ryan Dempster back in 1997.

 

The Manatees head south 70 miles to battle the St Lucie Mets tonight, tomorrow and Monday night before returning back to Space Coast Stadium on Tuesday, August 9th. The three-game series against the Mets begins the critical part of the season; all remaining games are against divisional opponents and the Mets and Manatees are currently tied for third place, three games out of first.

 

Brevard County Box Score:

We have run out of superlatives to describe RHP Tim Dillard's consistently marvelous performances -12-to-4 GB/FB in this one, once again no walks; top of the order goes 9-for-13...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_sarafx_1

 

Brevard County Game Log:

Travis Ezi trying to steal third with two outs in the 3rd? Manatees had big chances, the Reds -- virtually none...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_sarafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Asheville (Rockies) 6, West Virginia 5

 

West Virginia Site Game Summary:

 

POWER COMEBACK FALLS SHORT

Charleston, WV ? The West Virginia Power went into the bottom of the ninth inning of Friday night?s game trailing the Asheville Tourists 6-2 at Appalachian Power Park. The Power scored three runs in the inning, but the game ended with the tying run on third, the winning run on second and the Tourists on top 6-5.

 

Joe Koshansky and Justin Nelson contributed with RBI doubles in the top of the first inning to give Asheville a 2-0 lead. Jeff Dragicevich made it a 3-0 Asheville lead on an RBI single in the top of the second inning.

 

The Power cut the lead to two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on Brendan Katin?s RBI single. In the top of the seventh inning, Koshansky and Matt Miller hit back to back home runs and Nelson Robledo reached on a fielder?s choice, bringing in Nelson to complete the three-run inning.

 

In the bottom of the seventh inning Alcides Escobar hit an RBI single to make it a 6-2 game. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Ryan Braun hit an RBI single and Grant Richardson hit a two-run base hit to bring the Power within a run. Angel Salome popped out to Chris Nelson to end the game with runners on second and third base.

 

Franklin Morales (5-3) earned the victory, Scott Beerer (20) earned the save and Kevin Roberts (0-1) obtained the loss. The Power are 21-19 in the second half after the loss and the Tourists move to 18-23 with the win.

 

The Power will begin a four game series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers at First Horizon Park on Saturday night. The Power will throw LHP Derek Miller (0-0, 0.00) and the Grasshoppers have not announced their starter. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM (6:05 Central).

 

West Virginia Box Score:

IF / OF Josh brady pitched the 9th when it was 6-2 -- his scoreless inning was almost a big key to victory -- I guess the Power was counting on an extra inning somewhere from the three earlier hurlers; speaking of which, Eric "Mega" Thomas' comeback story continues nicely; Hernan Iribarren came off the bench, with most of the night off; Ryan Braun 3-for-5; Grant Richardson on base thrice more; all ten Power hits were singles...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

 

West Virginia Game Log:

Very shoddy Power baserunning stifled a 4th inning rally; Ryan Braun error # 8...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_wvaafx_1

[Mass Haas]

Final: Mississippi (Braves) 3, Huntsville 2, ten innings

A night catcher Jeff Winchester will never forget -- in a not-so-good way...

 

Huntsville Site Game Summary:

 

Gregor Blanco singled home the winning run in the tenth inning to push Mississippi past Huntsville 3-2 Friday night in the first of a three-game set at Joe Davis Stadium. The Braves improved to 19-21 in the second half and to 30-29 on the road, while the Stars slipped to 19-21 in the second half and lost for a sixth time in their last nine games at home. The Braves have won 13 of the 19 games between the teams, including seven of the eight in Huntsville and have held the Stars to two runs or fewer in five of those eight games.

 

Michael Rosamond struck out against Brian Wolfe for what appeared to be the second out in the tenth inning but reached second base when catcher Jeff Winchester was charged with a passed ball, his fourth of the night, and first baseman Brandon Gemoll could not handle his throw to first base to try to cut down Rosamond, running out of the batters box. Onil Joseph singled to left to move Rosamond to third and Blanco singled to center field on the next pitch to drive in the Braves? first baseman with the night?s decisive run.

 

Joey Devine yielded a two-out single to Gemoll in the home tenth but struck out Brad Nelson to end the game and earn his fourth save since joining the Braves. Devine was the 27th overall selection in the June amateur draft by Atlanta after a record-setting career at North Carolina State.

 

The Stars tied the game in the seventh inning on a bases loaded single by Tony Gwynn, Jr. that scored Enrique Cruz, who scored both Huntsville runs. Callix Crabbe then sent a fly ball to shallow left field that appeared to plate Winchester with the go-ahead run but it was ruled that the Huntsville receiver had tagged up and left third base too early.

 

Rosamond singled home a pair of runs in the first inning to give the visitors the early lead. Stars starter Glenn Woolard then blanked the Braves over the next five innings before Jerome Gamble tossed a scoreless seventh and Andy Pratt worked scoreless relief in the eighth and ninth innings. Wolfe suffered his first loss since joining the Stars and has allowed only one earned run in 9 1/3 innings.

 

The series continues Saturday night with knuckleballing right-hander Keith Stamler throwing for the Stars against Braves? right-hander Paul Bush. Coverage of the game gets underway at 5:50 p.m. central time on ESPN 1450 AM and via the internet at www.huntsvillestars.com.

 

Huntsville Box Score:

Brad Nelson 1-for-5 with three K's; Enrique Cruz on base three times, now with 27 doubles...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

 

Huntsville Game Log:

For good measure, Jeff Winchester was also hit by a pitch --ouch...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...x_hunaax_1

[Mass Haas]

Final, Game One: Nashville 5, Colorado Springs (Rockies) 2

 

Final, Game Two: Nashville 7, Colorado Springs 0

These boys are real road warriors...

 

Nashville Site Doubleheader Summary:

 

Link for Wes Obermueller photo in Nashville red --

 

COLORADO SPRINGS ? The Nashville Sounds recorded their second doubleheader sweep of the season on Friday evening at Security Service Field, scoring 5-2 and 7-0 victories over the host Colorado Springs Sky Sox in the first two games of a four-game series.

 

With the wins, Nashville (62-51) increased its lead in the PCL American Conference Northern Division to seven games over second-place Memphis, which lost in Salt Lake.

 

Wes Obermueller (5.0 IP), Kane Davis (1.0 IP), and Jose Capellan (1.0 IP) combined on Nashville?s second shutout of the season in the nightcap as the Sounds improved to 7-3 in twinbill action and to 15-5 on Fridays in 2005.

 

Nashville baserunners, who led the Pacific Coast League with 125 steals entering the doubleheader, had a field day against the Sky Sox backstops, swiping four bags without being caught in the opener against Dan Conway then adding a 5-for-6 effort in the nightcap with Pascual Matos behind the dish.

 

All-Star Corey Hart led the way, swiping three bags on the night to move into second in the circuit with a career-high-tying 27 thefts, one off the league lead held by Oklahoma?s Esteban German. The outfielder also registered 27 swipes during his 2002 campaign.

 

Obermueller helped his own cause in the nightcap, spotting Nashville a 2-0 lead in the second inning with a two-out, two-run double after Colorado Springs manager Marv Foley elected to intentionally walk the .182-hitting Corey D. Hart in front of him to put runners on the corners. Obermueller is no slouch with the lumber; the hurler led all major league pitchers with a .385 batting average in 2004 (min. 35 AB).

 

Nashville added to the lead in the third when All-Star Corey Hart reached on a fielder?s choice, stole his team-leading 27th base of the year, and scored on Prince Fielder?s RBI single to make it a 3-0 game.

 

Hart struck again in the top of the seventh, delivering a two-run triple against Sky Sox reliever P.J. Bevis to up the advantage to 5-0. Fielder followed with a mammoth two-run shot to center that easily cleared the 40-foot high batter?s eye. The blast, his team-best 22nd homer of the year, gave the 21-year-old a team-leading 70 RBIs on the season.

 

Obermueller (2-0) tossed five scoreless innings to earn his second consecutive win. Colorado Springs starter Christian Parker (1-3) absorbed the nightcap loss after giving up three runs on six hits and five walks over his 5 1/3 frames.

 

Nashville took a 1-0 lead in the opener when Warren Morris (2-for-4) scored on Fielder?s RBI groundout in the top of the first inning. The Sounds tacked on two more in the third on outfielder Corey Hart?s run-scoring single and another RBI groundout, this one from Nelson Cruz.

 

Catcher Mike Rivera swatted his tenth home run of the season to extend the lead to 5-0 in the top of the sixth, touching Sky Sox reliever Wilton Chavez for a two-run shot to left.

 

Colorado Springs broke up Gary Glover?s shutout bid with a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the frame to bring the score to its final 5-2.

 

Sounds shortstop Steve Scarborough continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-3 effort in the opener and center fielder Dave Krynzel extended his hitting streak to six games with a 1-for-3 showing. Neither player appeared in the nightcap.

 

Glover (4-2) earned the win in the opener after allowing two runs on six hits over his 5 2/3 frames. Jeff Bennett came on to record the final four outs to pick up his team-leading 11th save, his first since July 6. Colorado Springs starter Zach Day (0-1) took a loss in his first Triple-A decision of the year. The right-hander surrendered three runs over five innings.

 

The teams meet again in the third game of the four-game set on Saturday evening at 8:05 p.m. CT. Right-hander Mike Meyers (4-4, 5.44) takes the hill for Nashville to face Sky Sox right-hander Jason Young (9-6, 5.38).

 

Nashville Game One Box Score:

Here's hoping the Brewers re-sign catcher Mike Rivera to serve as a nice option for catcher help in 2006...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_cspaaa_1

 

Nashville Game One Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_cspaaa_1

 

Nashville Game Two Box Score:

Corey Hart with eight triples -- what an athlete; Chris Barnwell's throwing error the only miscue by the Sounds all night...

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_cspaaa_2

 

Nashville Game Two Game Log:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...a_cspaaa_2

[Mass Haas]

Kudos to the broadcasters / staff who put together the quick turnaround game recaps you see above. Andy Barch does fine in West Virginia, and the Huntsville and Nashville versions just couldn't be more professionally detailed and informative.

 

Thanks for letting us bring your words to a wider audience!

[Mass Haas]

First Brewers' no-hitter has roots Down Under

By Daren Smith / MLB.com

 

The first no-hitter in Helena Brewers' history had a distinctly Australian flair.

 

Aussies Simon Beresford and David Welch were among the four Brewers who combined on a no-hitter on Friday night as Helena rolled to an 11-0 victory over the Billings Mustangs.

 

Beresford and Welch were unlikely participants in Pioneer League history. A 32nd-round pick in the 2002 draft, Beresford had not pitched since June 5 due to a broken rib. Welch, selected by Milwaukee in the 20th round of the 2005 draft, had not pitched since July 12 due to a strained shoulder.

 

"It's absolutely amazing," Welch said. "Both of us, we hadn't pitched in (at least) three weeks. Both of us had come off the DL and we weren't expecting this at all. We were just trying to get back into it and all of a sudden, it was lights-out."

 

Making his Helena debut, Beresford set down all nine batters he faced, striking out three. He was followed by Richard Breshears, who walked four and fanned five over 2 1/3 innings.

 

Working with an 11-run lead, Welch cruised, retiring the five batters he faced.

 

"At that time, when I came in, we weren't thinking of a no-hitter," he said. "I just wanted to go in there, throw the ball over the plate. The lead helped a lot, it was amazing."

 

Welch, who attended Texarkana Junior College, had never been involved in a no-hitter.

 

"No one said a word," he said. "But everyone kind of had that look in their eye. In the eighth inning, with two outs, it was dead quiet (in the dugout)."

 

Wilfrido Laureano, who had replaced Welch to start the eighth, was two outs away from completing the gem when J.D. Roberts hit a liner to right field that was snagged by Freddy Parejo.

 

"It was an absolute rope," Welch said. "He really turned on it. I thought it was getting down. A ball hit straight at one of your outfielders, that's one of the hardest plays to do. But (Parejo) got it right by his hip. That was it right there, that saved it."

 

Laureano struck out Jose Ronda to end the game, setting off a celebration among the 1,008 at Kindrick Field.

 

"I'm stoked," said Welch, who was credited with the win, but won't have much time to celebrate with the Brewers slated to catch an early-morning bus for the ride to Billings.

[Mass Haas]

I can't copy the photo here, but at least for today, a nice photo heading for the above story of Beresford and Welch:

 

www.minorleaguebaseball.c...p?cid=milb

[H0FFY]

Nashville had such a bad run for a while, but with the double header sweep are now SEVEN games up. They are playoff bound 99%.

 

Hart is amazing me. 27 stolen bases. He had a couple walks tonight as well, and back solidly over .300 in average. He is just improving.

 

Cruz I can see it coming back to the pack a little, but having those two guys knocking on the door is brilliant.

 

I am amazed (again) at the difference between MLB and AAA for guys who are mid to late 20s. Glover and Obie are dominant in AAA and really tough to watch in Milwaukee. I really do still have hope for Obie, being a late starter and all that.

 

But, I think I am most excited now about Capellan. He is really doing a stand up job as a reliever. His era is down to 3.90, it was mid 4s wasnt it, a while back as a starter.

 

I dont know what to think about Kane Davis. Another nugget for Doug. How many high 90s washed up guys can Doug find. Maybe we always need to have one or two in Milwaukee (ala Kolb and Turnbow) so these guys with one last hurrah in their bones will always ring Dougie on the phone. (we only need them to ring, I guess, if they throw 97+). Mind you, Matt Wise would not be hear, and I love him.

 

The Brewer management have assembled a great (and interesting) mob at Nashville.

 

Oh, I forgot Prince with tator 22. I guess he will hit 30 after a terribly slow start and a few weeks in Milwaukee. He can mash. I never think about delaying arby clocks, but maybe Overbay should stay here until trade deadline NEXT year. I would guess O will still put up similar numbers next year to those we expect from Prince in Prince's first year. And Prince may be one of those few, few truely elite guys that will be at $15 mill a year when he is out of arby.

 

I dont forget about closer Bennett and his 2.9ish era as the closer.

 

In reality, we could see, next year at AAA Krynzel, Hart, Cruz in the outfield and Fielder at first, and even Enrique The Error Cruz at short. And the rotation, should be pretty sweet full of prospects as well.

 

This whole Brewerfan thing is kind of exciting this year.

[And That]

This whole Brewerfan thing is kind of exciting this year.

 

And there is Brewerfan's motto for the year.

 

This is the best year to be a Milwaukee Brewer fan since at least '92. We have major league talent and a lot of very good minor league performances. There are still things to worry about on the major league side, but isn't it great that we have a wave of prospects, and we still have those guys in AAA and AA about to hit Milwaukee? Wow. Eat it, Twins.

 

If Jack Z. ever leaves I will cry.

[And That]

Furthermore, Thatcher and Holmberg should be promoted to WV, and Baker and Murray should be demoted. Actually, Murray should be released, but once Reid Nichols likes a guy...

[pogokat]

yay...a kenny holmberg mention by someone other than me!!!

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.helenair.com/articles...605_01.txt

 

Brewers make history

By TOM COTTON - IR Sports Editor

 

On a history-making night at Kindrick Legion Field Simon Beresford was interested in the number zero.

 

"I was first focused on my outing and putting up zeroes," he said. "Then we put up an eight spot and I was concentrating on the offense. It wasn't until the seventh inning that I was seeing zeroes on the scoreboard."

 

Beresford, David Welch, Richard Breshears and Wilfredo Laureano put up a whole bunch of zeroes Friday night as they combined for a no-hitter in a 11-0 Pioneer League win over the Billings Mustangs.

 

It was the first no-hitter in Helena Brewers history. The club began operations in 1978.

 

"I have goosebumps," Welch said about the feat. "It is just awesome."

 

The Brewer quartet was dominating against a Billings offense that had a respectable team batting average of .276. The foursome combined to strike out 12 and more impressively, the Mustangs didn't hit a ball out of the infield from the second inning until the ninth inning.

 

"They challenged the hitters, changed speeds and the defense played a major part," said Brewer pitching coach Mark Littell.

 

The start was Beresford's first since June 5 when he was a member of the Class A West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League. After getting sent to Helena in late June, he was sidelined by a rib injury, but showed no signs of rust Friday, striking out three in three innings work. He was on a strict pitch count of 40 pitches in the contest.

 

"I think the biggest thing was my control," said the right hander. "I was able to get my fastball and changeup over."

 

Beresford and Welch, who are both Australians, were long time friends and teammates at different levels before coming to Helena. Welch said that Beresford set the tone for the evening.

 

"Simon kept them off balance all night," Welch said.

 

Beresford gave way to Breshears in the fourth who walked four, but also struck out five.

 

Welch came in in the sixth before Laureano closed it out with a clean eighth and ninth innings. Welch got the win, moving his record to 2-0 on the season. It was his first appearance since July 12.

 

"They kept the ball on the ground, which allowed them to use the defense," Littell said.

 

There were very few close calls in terms of his for the Mustangs. The closest came in when Ned Yost nabbed a ball hit by J.D. Roberts in the sixth and tossed the ball to Welch, who covered first. Welch beat Roberts to first by a step.

 

While the Mustangs could generate no offense, the Brewers had no such problems. The big inning came in the third, when Helena pushed across eight runs. The big hits in the frame were a two-run home run by Agustin Septimo. The shot over left-center field was Septimo's third round tripper in two games. Yost had a two-RBI single and Adam Mannon had a double that drove in two in the inning. Mannon, who came to Helena from West Virginia in late July, added a solo home run in the fifth inning.

 

Yost was 3-for-5 at the plate for Helena and Mannon was 2-for-3.

 

The win keeps Helena firmly in control of the Pioneer League's North Division. They are three games ahead of the Mustangs. The two teams will meet again tonight, but this time it will be in Billings for a three game set. First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m (8:05 Central).

 

Jon Ebelt IR Staff Photographer - Billings shortstop Yoni Lasso, right, has the play at second base but Helena's Adam Mannon is able to break up the double play Friday at Kindrick Legion Field. Mannon's effort allowed teammate Agustin Septimo to reach first base.

 

http://www.helenair.com/content/articles/2005/08/06/sports_top/b01080605_01.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

www.wvgazette.com/section.../200508063

 

Tourists hold off Power

By Mike Whiteford

Charleston Gazette Staff writer

 

The homer-friendly conditions at Charleston?s new East End ballpark are obviously enticing to a player like Asheville?s Joe Koshansky, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound first baseman who leads the South Atlantic League in home runs.

 

But as a visitor to Appalachian Power Park, Koshansky must bear the burden of fame and, as a Class A celebrity, endure the relentless, if light-hearted, taunts of the park?s Toast Man, Rod Blackstone.

 

?It?s hard not to listen to him,?? Koshansky confessed.

 

Apparently unfazed by another night of verbal shenanigans, Koshansky rocketed a line-drive home run, his 32nd of the season, into the right-center bleachers to lead off the seventh inning Friday night to help the Tourists edge the Power 6-5 at Appalachian Power Park.

 

The game attracted a crowd of 3,457 on fireworks night, the final game of a homestand in which the Power finished with a 5-3 record. It was a team high for wins in a homestand this season.

 

In addition to his 32 home runs, the Asheville first baseman entered the game with 108 strikeouts ? a shortcoming that Blackstone noted loudly and interminably each time Koshansky emerged from the dugout and stood in the on-deck circle.

 

Blackstone even distributed cards that read: ?No No Joe Joe.??

 

Koshansky, a 23-year-old former University of Virginia player, knows, however, that rowdy fans are part of professional sports.

 

?You just have to go out there and do what you can to shut him up,?? he said. ?There?s going to be other fans along the way, and it?s going to get tougher as you go along. If you let this guy get to you, it?s going to affect you later on.??

 

In this case, the home run gave Koshansky a chance to verbally retaliate. As he trotted toward the visitors? dugout after his homer, he looked at Blackstone and delivered a zinger of his own.

 

?I told him to toast that,?? he said.

 

Asheville?s Matt Miller followed Koshansky?s blast with a home run to center, and the Tourists added a third run in the inning, boosting their lead to 6-1.

 

But the Power chipped away with a run in the bottom of the seventh and scored three more in the ninth, all with two out. The game ended with the potential tying and winning runs on second and third.

 

The big blow in the ninth was a two-run single by first baseman Grant Richardson, who earlier in the game extended his on-base streak to 24 games.

 

His two hits Friday lifted his average to .287 ? a rapid rise from his sub-.200 days of April. He also spent nearly a month on the disabled list with a dislocated rib in what looked like a lost season.

 

?This is my first 140-game professional season,?? said the 22-year-old Richardson, ?and it?s a tough summer. I was fortunate enough to come back strong after a tough start and an injury. I?ve been feeling well and seeing the ball well, and the team has been playing well.??

 

The most difficult aspect of the injury, he said, was his inability to contribute.

 

?Our team was going through troubles,?? he recalled. ?We had a tough start, and the hardest part of that whole thing was having to sit through it and watch the team go through troubles when there was nothing I could do about it.??

 

Power points

 

The Power will visit Greensboro for a four-game series beginning tonight and will return to Appalachian Power Park for a four-game series against Lexington beginning Thursday.

 

Bad base-running cost the Power in the fourth inning. Despite three hits, a walk and a hit batsman, the team scored just one run. Two runners were thrown out on the bases.

 

Koshansky?s homer was his second of the four-game series. His other one landed on Morris Street and bounced against the warehouse.

 

Entering Friday?s game, the Power?s average attendance of 3,587 ranked sixth in the 16-team league. Lakewood?s 6,446 was No. 1.

[Mass Haas]

The Huntsville Times hasn't updated for Saturday stories as of this post, but should shortly. You might find a Stars-related Mark McCarter column in addition to the game story once they do:

 

www.al.com/sports/huntsvilletimes/

 

The other boys here will take care of your Link Report needs the next couple of days -- it's off to Philly for me to see the Crew blast past .500, first with Massachusetts' own Chris Capuano http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif .

 

Have a great weekend!

[Raul Duke]

Where would you play Kenny? I think the Hurricane has 2B locked down.